This is a journal of my vegetable gardens. Skippy was my first dog and he thought the garden was his, even though I did all the work. But Skippy always stood by me and was a great friend. Now Suzie and Charley follow in his footsteps and garden with me. We're located near Boston (USDA zone 6A). I have a community plot, a backyard vegetable garden, fruit trees and berry bushes, chickens and bees. I use sustainable organic methods and do my best to grow all of my family's vegetables myself.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

overwintered kale

It was a great winter for kale, being so mild. We are still harvesting. It looks beautiful in the garden now. My gnome is hiding somewhere under the leaves. He's been working this patch all winter.

I have a great recipe for crispy oven kale, but I am always looking for new recipes.

My Dinosaur kale made it happily through most of the winter and then developed a massive aphid infestation. I was bummed, particularly in light of the absolutely scrumptious kale chips I made when I ripped the other kale plants out last fall.

Unfortunately, I took no recipe notes, so I'll have to dream them up again. I know they involved lemon juice, tahini, nutritional yeast, and soy sauce...

What variety do you use? I've been planting dwarf kale, which goes nicely in salads, but have recently discovered an "oil massaged kale" recipe that requires no cooking and am looking for a larger variety just so I can make it!

I have three dachshunds who LOVE the dwarf kale. They will pull it off the plant and eat it.

Hi Kathy,I love how beautiful your kale looks. Photos are in book quality :]I was wondering if you have transplanted any of your seedlings to the garden yet. For some reason I feel so behind "AGAIN" LOLHuli

I had not had Kale before we started gardening at the Lottie. It is brilliant and quite expensive in the Supermarket. I think it's in fashion at the moment! Lovely photos as ususal Kathy. Our weather is haphazard too, forgot my hat on Sunday sowing seeds, caught the sun, this morning I need my gloves!!Marian (LondonUK)

Hello!for quitte some time I love to follow this blog... its one of the best worldwide! Congratulations!I live in Portugal and also have a small (very small) vegetables garden which I love to take care of...I also have a blog (just strarted it) and love to have your visit / comments! Thkan you and, once more, congratulations!http://hortanodouro.blogspot.pt/(this is my blog...feel free to visit / comment)João

Your photos are very vivid I can almost see the Vit A, C and K! I'd like your kale recipe. Here is one that I stand by: Kale Salad with Pinenuts, Currants and ParmesanBon Appétit | February 2009by Dan Barber (I substitute cranberries for the currents) http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Kale-Salad-with-Pinenuts-Currants-and-Parmesan-351274#ixzz1dPb8eSZj

To think that I've never even had a taste of kale . . . now my curiosity is up.

Out checking on my garden the other day I spied a solitary parsley that apparently overwintered. I was picking sprigs into December, but am astonished to see this lone sentinel. Here in the North Pole (aka Princeton, MA) the people barely overwinter!